Railroad-switch



S. D. CUELLAR.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

UNITED s TEs PATENT ()FFIGE.

SAMUEL n. CUELIQAR, or NORTH PLEASANTON, TEXAS.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. CtrEnLAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Pleasanton, in the county of Atascosa and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of the invention is to pro vide a switch to replace the common stub switch in railroad yards where it is the practice to manually actuate such switch to effect the passage of hand cars, motor cars, engines and the like, and where engines are constantly running through the switches over bent or damaged'points but derailing the engine thereby causing very heavy expenses to the railroad companies. a

With the present invention, the operating means for the switch is thus that it may be used by both experienced and inexperienced hands and while effective in holding the switch points in place, it will readily yield to the pressure of the wheels of a car or locomotive passing out of the siding or branch track which it controls.

In the present embodiment of the invention, which is herein illustrated and which at the present time is thought to be the preferred embodiment, the invention is not to be restricted. The right is reserved to make any changes or alterations which the continued use in practice may suggest, in so far as such changes or alterations are compatible in spirit with the annexed claim.

The same numerals of reference designate the same parts throughout the several figures of the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tangent and a switch curve showing the improved switch applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the switch bar guide.

As illustrated, the invention is applied to a section of track comprising the tangent 1 and the switch curve 2, the usual switch points 3 being employed for switching a train or locomotive off the main track or tangent on to the siding or branch track with which the curve 2 connects. The ties v4 usually employed in conjunction with the ordinary stubble switch are also used in conjunction with the present switch, these ties, as is usual, extending laterally a suffi- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 16 1919, Application filed. July 21, 1919. Serial No. 312,279. I

cient distance from the track to permit the attachment of the switch. operating device 7 thereon. The present switch point operating device comprisesa shaft 5 carrying at one end a hand wheel 6. This shaft is ro-,

tatably'mounted 011 the two ties 4 by means of the shaft and abut the bottom or under face of the tie. The U-bolts herein specified are mentioned onlyas constituting what is believed to be a preferred means for mounting the shaft due consideration being given to the question of expense.

Between the two ties 4 the shaft 5 carries a gearv 8 which meshes with rack teeth 9 formed on the under edge of the switch bar 10, the two ends of the switch bar being opposite from each other so that that end remote from the teeth may be attached to the switch points 3 which is effected by a conventional attaching means such as that illustrated at 11. The free end of the bar is guided by means of the U-shaped member 12 which straddles this free end and is secured to the two ties 4 by spikes or other the rotation of the shaft with the consequent rotation of the gear 8 and the longitudinal movement of the switch bar 10. The switch points are therefore thrown into the desired position by rotating the hand wheel in the proper direction.

In order that the switch points may be retained in either of their two positions, a rod 14 is employed and is formed with a foot 15 at each end, suitable fastening devices passing through these feet and securing the rod 14 to the ties 4, so that it is transversely disposed across the latter. The switch bar 10 on its upper edge and in the vicinity of this rod 14 is formed with two notches or recesses 16 in either of which the rod 14 may engage. When engaged in one of the recesses the switch points are held in a position to direct a train along the main track cient to retain the switch points in the desired position except when the train is passing in a direction so that its flanges will tend to throw the switch points from the position they occupy to the position that will permit the train to pass by the switch. Obviously this is efiected without damage to the switch point or any of their operating parts.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear enough understanding of the invention is to be had to render further descrip tion unnecessary.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

In a railroad switch, the combination with a pair of pivotally mounted switch points, of a switch bar connected with the two switch points, a rotatably mounted shaft, a gear carried by said shaft and meshing with teeth formed on the switch bar, means for turning said shaft whereby the bar may be moved longitudinally in either direction for the lateral shifting of the switch points, the switch bar being formed with a pair of spaced notches, and a rod spanning the bar and engageable with either of the notches to secure the rod against longitudinal movement except when undue lateral force is ex- 30 erted on the switch points.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

SAMUEL D. CUELLAR. 

